(February 18, 2013) - The public is invited to attend a
free public transit symposium from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26
at the
Oklahoma City Farmer’s Market, 311 S Klein.

The symposium will address the future of Oklahoma City and
regional public transportation. The event is hosted by Oklahoma City
Councilman Dr. Ed Shadid and the Oklahoma Alliance for Public
Transportation.

“Over the next months and years many important decisions
regarding our transit systems will be made,” Shadid said. “City
leaders, myself included, need your input on what will be best for Oklahoma
City.”

The featured speaker, Jarrett Walker, is the author of the book and blog
“Human Transit.” Walker, a Portland, OR resident, explains the questions
that need to be asked in terms of the local choices which lead to
transit-friendly development, the process of fitting technology to our
community, the optimization of our existing bus lines, the development of a
regional transit authority and a dedicated funding source for transit.

“To achieve what you want to achieve in Oklahoma City, you
will need not just great rail projects, but also to reimagine the bus,”
Walker said. “As an expert, my job is not to make you share my values, but
to give you the tools to implement yours.”

Participants are encouraged to share their opinions about
the City’s current bus system by stopping by the Nelson Nygaard table before
and after the symposium. Nelson Nygaard is a transit optimization and
strategy consultant who was hired by Metro Transit to conduct an in-depth
study of the City’s bus system.